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BIRMINGHAM, ALA. (SMU) – Behind a record-breaking performance from junior Latessa Johnson in the 200-meter dash, the SMU track & field team earned first runner-up at the at the American Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships this weekend at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

The Mustangs totaled 85 points, edging out third-place Connecticut with 74 points. The Cincinnati Bearcats took the women's indoor conference title with 147 points. Sophomore Hannah Miller totaled the most points of any female athlete over the weekend, earning her the title of Meet MVP on the women's side.

For the second time in her career, Johnson shattered the AAC indoor record in the 200-meters. Her time of 23.17 topped the personal best and SMU record of 23.29 which she established earlier this season at the Tyson Invitational. The Dallas native also took home the gold in 2016, clocking a time of 23.48.

Teammate Chelsea Francis took the bronze in the event with a time of 23.73, breaking her personal best by 0.04 seconds.

The sprints duo continued to add to SMU's point total in the 60-meter dash, with Francis earning a second-place finish (7.33) and Johnson finishing in fourth (7.42).

In field events, freshman Cassie Ackemann picked up a bronze medal in her first conference championships meet. The Ben Lomond, California native earned a mark of 1.73m (5-8.00) in the high jump to take third.

Atipa Mabonga also impressed in her first AAC Championships meet, making it to the triple jump finals. The freshman ultimately took seventh place with a mark of 12.07m (39-7.25), picking up two points for SMU.

SMU's lone thrower, Daniella Murchison, earned her way to the finals of Saturday's shot put event. The junior finished in 17^th with a throw of 13.06m (42-10.25).

Miller secured her second conference title of the weekend with a commanding win of the 3,000-meters. She finished in 9:39.10 to take first, followed by teammates Svenja Ojstersek (9:48.71) in fourth, Charlotte-Tara Murphy (9:52.11) in seventh, Anneke Grogan (10:00.02) in 16^th, Alison Esparza (10:03.84) in 18^th, Marlene Gomez-Islinger (10:11.29) in 27^th and Tess Misgen (10:16.95) in 31^st. Esparza's time sets a new personal best.

Misgen also competed in the mile, finishing sixth with a time of 4:57.03.

SMU's 4x400 relay team capped off the weekend with a fifth-place finish in 3:46.91, just short of the fifth-best time in SMU history.

Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Mustangs by following SMU Track & Field Team on Twitter at @SMUTrackFieldXC, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SMUTrackFieldXC, and on Instagram at Instagram.com/SMUTrackandXC. Find SMU Athletics on Twitter at @SMUMustangs or Instagram at SMU.Mustangs.
 
Women's Team Rankings – Final:

1. Cincinnati – 147
2. SMU – 85
3. Connecticut – 74
4. East Carolina – 72.83
5. Houston – 64
6. Temple – 51
7. Tulane – 41
8. UCF – 33
9. South Florida – 32.83
10. Memphis – 27
11. Tulsa – 18
12. Wichita State – 16.33

All-Conference Finishes:
Hannah Miller - 5,000m - Gold
Hannah Miller - 3,000m - Gold
Latessa Johnson - 200m dash - Gold
Tess Misgen, Madison Pyle, Ashton Woods, Hannah Miller - DMR - Silver
Chelsea Francis - 60m dash - Silver
Chelsea Francis - 200m dash - Bronze
Cassie Ackemann - High jump - Bronze